CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina track & field returns to action this weekend at the Hilton Invitational. The meet takes place at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C., the same location as the Southern Conference Indoor Championships held in the end of February.

The meet begins Friday afternoon at Noon with the multi events. The heptathlon gets things underway with the 60m dash while the pentathlon's 60m hurdles follow at 12:15 p.m. The running and field events begin later in the afternoon at 5:00 p.m. On the track, the men's and women's 60m heats take place at that time with the women's weight throw, pole vault and triple jump beginning in the field.

On Saturday the 60m hurdles heats begin the day on the track at 10:00 a.m. as the women's shot put, men's high jump and the women's long jump take place on the field. The final event of the day is the 4x400-meter relay at 7:10 p.m.

The Catamounts are coming off a strong weekend at the McCravy Memorial Meet at the University of Kentucky, highlighted by freshman Tayla Carter tying the Western Carolina record in the 60m dash (7.48). Senior Brandon Hairston's efforts at the meet earned him SoCon Track Athlete of the Week honors, the second for a Catamount this season.

Hairston ran a personal best 48.22 in the crowded 400-meter field at the meet hosted by the University of Kentucky. He went on to finish seventh overall. Hairston then ran a leg of the 4x400-meter relay on the WCU team that placed fourth, but the 3:15.53 time leads the SoCon and ranks sixth in the Southeast. The Walkertown, N.C., native leads the SoCon individually in the 200-meter dash (21.96) and has the fifth-best time in the 60-meters (6.88).

A week ago freshman sprinter Tayla Carter was named the SoCon's Female Track Athlete of the Week. Carter tied a school record in the 60-meter dash in Kentucky, running a 7.48. She leads the conference in the event while also leading the SoCon in the 200m (24.96).

Additionally, Catamount triple jumper Bob McNeil has jumped the sixth farthest in the Southeast with his season-best 14.92m. Sophomore Jerry Wickerson is the conference leader in the 60m with his time of 6.84 with teammate Ron Duncan behind him with his best of 6.88. The women's 4x400-meter relay team also leads the SoCon (3:50.25).

"We are looking to continue to improve in all areas of our program," said head coach Danny Williamson. "We will rest some of our athletes this weekend, while others will step out of their normal event area and compete up an event. We will begin our process of formulating the team that will represent us at the 2013 SoCon Indoor Championships where only 25 athletes (per men's and women's teams) are allowed to represent your team."

Live results will be available at www.timinginc.com and also at www.JDLFastTrack.com. A complete review of each day can be found at CatamountSports.com.